Strange Specie Of Bts Train Seen

[pkspeaker]

just curious.. I got into an odd bts train yesterday, it wasn't one of the new 4 car bombardier trains, and it wasn't one of the old 3 car siemens trains-which are the majority of the trains on the sukhumvit line (currently the new bombardiers run on the silom line and the sukhumvit line is mixed with a few new trains running with mostly old ones..

This 1 was a 4 car siemens train, looks like the old ones except a few minor differences inside, the poles were different and it had lights where the cars connect-like the new ones do, the other siemens old ones are dim in between cars.. at first when it pulled up i thought they had just added a 2nd middle car, but this was a new siemens, thought seiemens had lost the contract in favor of the bombardier ones, but apparently they bought some new siemens ones..

[Lakegeneve]

I guess if one had been living in a cave for the last few years, not reading any news, nor able to do a simple google search then it might make sense that one had not seen any of the dozens & dozens of new stories that BTSC had purchased 35 single Siemens cars to convert all of the rolling stock on the Sukhumvit line to 4 cars.

Given the big PR splash that the BMA and BTSC made in late August when the first batch of new trains arrived, one would have expected most people would have seen something in the english press. That, and the fact that there are at least 6 threads on the issue on TV;

In any event, unfortunately you won't be able to have the new species named after you as it is the established Siemens rolling stock which is already found in many parts of the world. Coupled with its older, decade old cousins, it does obviously look newer and fresher but then that should be no great surprise.

Enjoy your travels!

[soomak]

Me too first noticed the new train car today (on the Sukumvit line).

Been riding it 10 times a week for the past 6 months, and have not seen such a car, so it must be new.

The main difference I could notice was the vertical poles, which diverge into 3 poles - very convenient.

Other then that they look the same, just new and spotless (and very cold).

[SeaVisionBurma]

I guess if one had been living in a cave for the last few years, not reading any news, nor able to do a simple google search then it might make sense that one had not seen any of the dozens & dozens of new stories that BTSC had purchased 35 single Siemens cars to convert all of the rolling stock on the Sukhumvit line to 4 cars.

Ouch!

[montrii]

I guess if one had been living in a cave for the last few years, not reading any news, nor able to do a simple google search then it might make sense that one had not seen any of the dozens & dozens of new stories that BTSC had purchased 35 single Siemens cars to convert all of the rolling stock on the Sukhumvit line to 4 cars.

Given the big PR splash that the BMA and BTSC made in late August when the first batch of new trains arrived, one would have expected most people would have seen something in the english press. That, and the fact that there are at least 6 threads on the issue on TV; http://www.thaivisa....00#entry5859013

Google, schmoogle. Cave, schmave. Dude! Just answer the question (which you eventually did, thank you, in however roundabout form). A few of us non-cavedwellers have actual lives, which don't allow for spending the whole day tracking down threads about Siemens, schmiemens. Again, though, thank you for the answer. And I've long wondered why BTS doesn't regularly throw on more cars during commute hours, it is getting a bit rough in there.

[brewsterbudgen]

4 car trains have been running for a while now on the Sukhumvit line. About every train in 6 is a new one, although they are more frequent at the weekends.

[Lakegeneve]

I guess if one had been living in a cave for the last few years, not reading any news, nor able to do a simple google search then it might make sense that one had not seen any of the dozens & dozens of new stories that BTSC had purchased 35 single Siemens cars to convert all of the rolling stock on the Sukhumvit line to 4 cars.

Given the big PR splash that the BMA and BTSC made in late August when the first batch of new trains arrived, one would have expected most people would have seen something in the english press. That, and the fact that there are at least 6 threads on the issue on TV; http://www.thaivisa....00#entry5859013

Google, schmoogle. Cave, schmave. Dude! Just answer the question (which you eventually did, thank you, in however roundabout form). A few of us non-cavedwellers have actual lives, which don't allow for spending the whole day tracking down threads about Siemens, schmiemens. Again, though, thank you for the answer. And I've long wondered why BTS doesn't regularly throw on more cars during commute hours, it is getting a bit rough in there.

It was a bit 'tongue in cheek' given the title of your thread - one has to expect a little literary license will be used in any reply to "strange specie of bts". Thought I'd take the liberty.

That, and the fact that any regular BTS pax has been screaming out for extra rolling stock in the last 2yrs, hence the numerous articles, letters and discussion on the issue. Yes we all work full time jobs but somehow most manage to still keep abreast of many issues here and abroad, even raise families and have a full socioal life - we all have diverse interests.

There is a tendency on TV for people NOT to take 30secs to do a quick search, (much less time than it takes to type a post) before they post. Often the info is already there and if not, there is a least enough to elucidate a clearer query. Apols if that aspect of my reply sounded more blunt than was appropriate for your context.

In relation to why the BTSC hasn't put on more services, or rolling stock, it is a simple reason.....money. They have not had the funds to purchase rolling stock to meet rising pax. Orders which should have been placed in 03/04 were essentially deferred to 2007 and later in the case of these 35 single cars. Deliveries from both CNR (silom line 4 car sets) & Siemens were also late which exacerbated the problem.

I posted a historical explanation some time ago on another thread if you are interested,

Overcrowding will still be a problem for the next few years. The 5 new CNR 4 car sets for the Silom line extension to Bang Wah will not arrive until after the whole extension is open in Aug 2013 (opening in two stages). It is one of the problems of having heavily indebted private operators rather than an integrated, govt run agency which has the funds to make big purchases.

[Payboy]

The best thing about those new trains is that now 3 people can hog the pole instead of just 1.